Family with Athens connection mourns loss of one of Georgia's only quintuplets

Posted: Friday, January 07, 2000

By Joan StroerStaff Writer

Almost two years ago, a jubilant staff at metro Atlanta's Northside Hospital threw a birthday party for Georgia's only known set of quintuplets, complete with cake, ice cream and local TV crews. The five 1-year-olds had already earned the family nickname, the Terry Terrorists.

On Thursday, as news spread through the hospital of the death of one of the quintuplets, Dylan Terry, staff members were devastated, especially those in the pediatric ward.

''It happened so suddenly, we're all just in shock,'' said Matt Jernigan, a spokesman with Northside Hospital. ''Everyone here at the hospital was so close to the family.''

Dylan Terry, born to Athenian Don Terry and his wife Carol Ann Terry almost three years ago, died in his sleep in Roswell Tuesday morning. He had been under treatment for an epileptic-like condition and was taking medication to control his seizures. An autopsy was planned to determine the cause of death.

Dylan was the last of the premature quints born March 19, 1997, to leave Northside. He had apnea, which is thought to cause Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The seizures began when he was 10 months old.

His mother, Carol Terry, gave birth to three girls and two boys who were recognized at the time as the first set of quintuplets in Georgia to survive. They were conceived through in vitro fertilization techniques and born after 31 weeks of gestation. The children would have celebrated their third birthday on March 19.

Much of their young lives have been carried out in the media spotlight, and the family got offers a free diapers, food and other gifts after the birth, said the Rev. Jerry Varnado of Gateway United Methodist Church in Athens. But the Terrys have used up their savings to care for the babies. The couple is moving to Athens, Don Terry's hometown, where housing is less expensive. The children's grandmother, Diana Terry, lives in Athens.

Varnado, the family minister and best friend of the late Don Terry Sr., said the family has been buoyed by the support of a large network of friends and relatives. They gathered at the family home in Roswell Thursday to pray and make funeral arrangements.

''They are doing as well as can be expected,'' Varnado said. ''The other four children always remind you of the one missing. But they do keep you busy. They'll survive this. They have a strong faith.''

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. today at the Christ the King Lutheran Church in Norcross. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Dylan Ashford Terry Memorial Fund, in care of Atlanta Postal Credit Union, 3900 Crown Road, Atlanta, GA 30380-0001.